Combined tail lamp, stop signal, and reverse light



Jan. 22, 1929.

C. A. MICHEL COMBINED TAIL LAMP, STOP SIGNAL, AND REVERSE LIGHT' Filed Jan. 10, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 22, 1929. 1,699,800

C. A. MICHEL COMBINED TAIL LAMP, STOP SIGNAL, AND REVERSE LIGHT Filed Jan. 10, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 [arr/72w Qa.

" will Patented Jan. 22, 1929.

teeeseo "UMT'ED cLA-nnncn A. MiGHEL, or ennvnnnnn, es-r10, essrenon T0 corn-n MOTOR neme- MANUFACTURING cor/rennet, on cnnvnnenn, eerie, A eon rone'rlon 0101-110.

COMBINEDTAILLAMPQSTOP SIGNAL, AND REVERSE LIGHT.

Ap i ati med January 10,4923. eel-m1 no. 611,728.

it is desirable to also haven rear end stop signal which is illuminated when the yehiole is stopped or the speed thereof checked in order to give e signal to on automobile inthe rear thereof, and it is also desirable when beckingen automobile to have Lsnffieflent illuminetion in the reerrthereo-f for the ioperetor of the automobile to see where [the ncachine is being hooked. V p

The object of my intention itheretone is to combine all itllnee (of these lamps into asingle military strnctune and prowide a neat and simple device which ,cenbe errenged exaotlyflthe same as the ordinary teillernp end which will serwewthe three functions before outlined. s

Anotherzobj eetiofitheinnen i n i 13 u i z one" portion of the lamp as ;a combined stop signal and reverselight end another object Got the invention -is to so const ue the om bined stop signal endreverse light that the rays of light will henprojected rearwerdly and .downwerdly so as to provide the great est amount of illumination at the $8311 of the vehicle when th eesome is fleeing booked,

Another object Giliallllfi innention is to provide e combination dewice ci ar character described andin whichthe' incandescent lamps will the conveniently errenged end ,to which access can he quickly and Jeasilyhad when desired. l

Another object of the invention is to prowide e. glass outlook in connection with the leinp easing end mstill further ohject is to so construct end arrange the sewene l ports that all of them will he securely held unposv tion end all rettling prevented. v

With ftllBSB various objects wiew the 1nrention COlISlSlES the novel dentures ofcon- ".strnction, and dine manner in which they are combined or errenged e'll of which will be fully describedhereinafter end set forth in the appended claims.

ltn the drawings forming part of this specification,

Figure '1 1s a face VlGW offle combinedtail lenep', stop signal and reverse light constructed in eecordence with my Tinvention;

liiggoce 2 is esiniiler wiew wrath the glass {front removed end er posingithe tneendement lamps, the reflector and subdividing pertition arranged in the casing;

iFlgUIiB .3 1s vertlcel longitudinal sectional iew;

jFig une A: is-en enlarged detailed sectional Q30 view showingthemenner of connecting the sub-dividing partition and ou look glass; and

Eigune 5 iso detailed perspeetime NieW of such parts.

tastenin k tor the i ln oarrying out my invention I employ a suhstztntiztl ly cylindrical casing A which is closed at the rear side and is pr-eierebly oon ,nected to the npwardly extending portion $5" of econchined lamp nndljicense bracket or r7 plate B. The casing alls r ended slightly where the cylindrical %porti d joinslthe rear e osetl i e en n peeetie 1 me er f this pontion with an inwardly p-nojeeting :fibnnnler shonlder A, The outer edge of the seems is h uld r t ou ward y e i diw e a 1A end t bott m of t th is out an opening rthnongh which light can be projected for the purpose of illuminating th lice e p a e attech l to the inl s o hreeke W thin the esi g 'P QiE ebly mi t ng .ege ns t int rnal e s-int shoulder A e combined efl to ee socket car ie t unne ipe rion i be n a section ofie perebole Whose ex s of ten il tion is inclined {to the honigontell es indicated by the lin :0 i The lower portion D is s raight es m clearly shown Figure :3. The upper poritlOIl has thesocket @sleeve E connected on thereto and the lower iportionD has the Q kQt sleeve Fconnectedthereto,athe sleeve 2E fleeing nrrengedinclined es shown and carrying the nicendescent lamp 1E wh le the wsoeliet F is errenged horizontal and carries the incenelescentilainp F therein.

n socket connection lG is arranged in e .sleeveiG tilted to thercar side of the leasing @end-ifrom whichlead the wires E end F inespectiyelyto thesockets SE and F end it will the noted; that ell of these connections are arranged let lthei rear of the reflector endlcon- -seqnently lGOl'lCBfilfiCl from view when the front ofrthetcasing is removed.

The oasing iswsuhdiyided "nto on upper and lower portion h? meanspof epertition H which substantial y semi-circular shape,

its sidemedges contacting with thevinner sides of the leasing :below the ihoriizontelinedio line endthereentmzlsneer spen -lien hit the har llfl tion is bent downwardly as shown at H in order to provide ample space for the positioning of the socket E in the inclined position as shown in Figure 3.

The-sides or ends of the partition H are bent back as shown at H and shouldered at II and secured to the casing by means of means of the cross pieces connected to the upset ends of the partition as most clearly shown in Figure 5.

The partition H when secured to the casing maintains the combined reflector and socket carrier in its proper position and if desired, the rear edges of the partition may be soldered or otherwise connected to the reflector. The upper portion C of the reflector is slightly inclined as indicated and consequently this *upperportion is provided with a rearwardly projecting flange C for contact with the interior annular shoulder A.

The casing is closed by means of a glass 1 front which comprises an upper portion K and a lower portion L and these upper and lower portions can bein one piece or separate pieces as preferred. The glass front whether composed of one piece or-two pieces is held between the outer frame plate M and the innerframe plate N and these frame plates with the red glass or glasses held therebetween are fitted into the shouldered edge A of the casing and secured to said casing through the medium of the divided channeled ring 0, the ends thereof being upset as indicated atO and through which a fastening screw 0 is passed for the purpose of binding the channeled ring upon the edges of the casing and the frame plates.

The lower glass L islenticular in form and has its inner face preferably formed with V refracting prisms or portions L. This glass is arranged in line with the lower incandescent lam F and serves as the ordinary tail lamp, thls lamp being continuously 1llum1" nated when the switch is turned on. The

lamp E is connected with the switch which is operatively connected with the brake or V clutch so that it will be illuminated when'the vehicle is stopped or the speed thereof checked and this lamp E will also be connected with a switch which can be turned on whenflever is shifted into reverse when the vehicle is being reversed or backed for the the space directly at the rear of the vehicle. i Y T In order that the upper portion of the lamp can be utilized both as a stop signal and as a reverse light, the upper glass K is constructed in a peculiar manner and in my application of even date herewith, I have shown several forms of glasses which can be employed. In the present instance, the outer face of the central portion of the glass is formed with parallel vertical prisms K while the surrounding border K is flat but the inner face of the surrounding border portion is stippled as indicated at K.

By constructing the upper glass in this manner I provide for the lateral distribution of light by means of the prisms K and by means of the stippled inner face of the border portion, I provide for the brilliant illumination of such border portion which serves as a stop signal when the lamp is cut in upon the stoppage of the vehicle or the checking of the speed thereof. 1

When the lamp E is lighted, there is not only lateral distribution of the light but also owing to the inclination of the reflector, the rays of light are directed downwardly and rearwardly through the glass inasmuch as the incandescent lamp is preferably placed at the focal point of the reflector as most clearly shown in Figure 3.

It will alsobe understood that the lamp E is of considerably greater candle power than the lamp F which is continuously illuminated and serves as the ordinary tail lamp.

It will thus be seen that I provide a very simple form of combination lamp embodying the ordinarytail lamp, a stop signal and a reverse or backing light and that the various parts are so constructed and arranged as to be quickly and easily placed within the casing and when once secured will be held against rattling and it will also be noted that the refleetor serves the purpose of carrying the sockets for thelamps and also conceals the wiring and the sub-dividing partition also serves to hold the reflector in place and likewise the curved outlook glass and in this connection. attention is called to the fact that I am able to employ a curved piece of glass in contra-distinction to the strips of celluloid or other translucent material heretofore employed to cover the outlook opening.

Instead of employing the inner and outer frame plates M andN and the clamping ring 0, I may form the outer frame plate with an inwardly projecting annular flange which fits upon a flanged portion of the casing and the frame in this instance will be secured to the casing through the medium of screws passing through the sides of the frame into threaded lugs attached to the casing or the partition.

By carrying the front glass or glasses between the outer and inner plates connected together by the central screw M, I provide a simple and efficient means for positioning the glass within the open end of the casing as the outer edges of the glass or glasses are held between the outer metallic portions of the frame plates, the inner plate N preferably fitting into the outer plate M as shown and both a curved glass covering said opening and a partition arranged in said casing and subdividing the same, the ends of said partition being secured to the sides of the casing, the edges of said partition being bent back and shouldered to receive the ends of the curved outlook glass and cross pieces connected to the shouldered portions of the partition and holding the glass against movement.

A device of the class described coinprising a casing, a reflector arranged within said casing, a partition extending across said casing and dividing the same into a plurality of compartments, said casing having an opening in its bottom, a curved outlook glass posit-ioned over said opening, said partition having its opposite ends secured to the side walls of said casing and overlying said outlook glass for holding the same in place, the rear central portion of said partition being bent downwardly and bearing against said reflector and serving to hold the same against displacement.

3. A device of the class described comprising an open ended casing having an inwardly projecting shoulder thereon, a reflector arranged within said casing and abutting said i shoulder, a partition extending across said casing and dividing the same into a pair of compartments, said partition being secured to said casing and having a bent portion contacting with said reflector and holding the same against displacement, an outlook glass positioned over an opening in the bot-tom of said casing, said partition having a portion engaging said outlook glass and holding the same in place, a lamp socket in each of said compartments and a transparent cover secured over the open end of said casing.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature.

CLARENCE A. MICHEL. 

